Amana Colonies Room

Among Iowa's most famous immigrants are the people who came from Germany and founded the Amana Colonies in Eastern Iowa in 1855. There they lived communally until 1932. During the Great Depression they began to interact with their Iowa neighbors. Restaurants, museums, hotels, historical tour and shops with handcrafts now are a draw for visitors.

Wine and furniture makers as well as farmers and the textile makers, the people of the Amanas have given our state an important heritage.

In 1934, Amana Refrigeration was founded. It became the most widely known business to emerge from the area.